Darlise Cafe in Kitchener

33 Queen St S A, Kitchener, ON N2G 1V8, Canada

★★★★★
(702 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Cafe Coffee shop

About

Cozy, intimate hub for comfort-food breakfast (all day) & lunch with espresso drinks & smoothies.

Website
darlisecafe.com
Address
33 Queen St S A, Kitchener, ON N2G 1V8, Canada
Plus Code
CGX6+P6 Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
8 AM–2 PM
Thursday
8 AM–2 PM
Friday
8 AM–2 PM
Saturday
8 AM–2 PM
Sunday
8 AM–2 PM

Services

Service options
Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Highlights
Great tea selection
Offerings
Coffee Healthy options
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Paid parking lot Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.6
★★★★★
702 reviews

Most Mentioned

eggs benedict (66) brunch (57) potato pancake (27) french toast (26) crepe (24) hollandaise (20) jam (13) lattes (12) chicken waffle (7) banana foster (6)
5 stars
524
4 stars
105
3 stars
32
2 stars
19
1 stars
22
★★★★★
December 14, 2024

Food is awesome and friendly staff, very quick service. Great place for breakfast!

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

This is a great find for having an amazing breakfast or lunch in downtown Kitchener right across the street from the Walper hotel. We.stopped in for a late breakfast and had Chorizo Bennies and Poach Eggs on homemade bread. Everything is made on site including their delicious jams and hot sauce. Make sure you drop it.

★★★★
November 24, 2024

A charming cafe, good sized portion meals. Flavour profile was decent for a neighbourhood cafe. Very friendly staffs, though it seems like there is one waiter and two helpers. Breakfast took almost two hours, so it’s a place for quality time with your fellow guests.

★★★★★
October 4, 2024

The coziest Café I have ever been to, the server was so nice and was so kind, the food was phenomenal (my favorite things were their home made jam and their potato pancake), the ambiance was so welcoming and I'd reccomend this place to anyone. If I could give more than 5 stars I would this was the best breakfast I had in so long

★★
August 25, 2024

This place has so much potential but it’s not managed properly, as I was sitting waiting to be seated so many people had come and go without even being noticed. Empty tables would just sit there , nobody bothered to clean and make space for customers . The girl at the bar wouldn’t make eye contact, some customers had to get up to take a menu if they wanted to order more and she had that “ I hate my job” look and so so slow. As a business manager myself I was just watching $$$ slipping away because of the poor customer service. As per food , my potato pancake was undercooked, some pieces were really raw. My spouse was happy with his chicken waffle meal. Total experience took over 1.5h from the moment we showed up, if we knew what we’re getting in the end we would definitely go someplace else.

★★★★
April 28, 2024

The food was excellent! We ordered Jimbo's chicken & waffles (with poached eggs), french toast sticks (appetizer) & Holly's omelette. Everything tasted fresh, hot and delicious 😋. To drink, had two lattes and one with salted caramel flavour. The one thing we didn't like was potato pancake as a side because it was a bit hard. I think if substituted with hash browns or fries, it would've been better. The service however was a bit slow and our food took a long time. I think there was just one person waiting the tables, but they were very friendly!

★★★★★
February 5, 2024

Visited this lovely little spot this past weekend. We were seated immediately but warned of a long wait, but told to trust that it would it would be worth it. We were served our coffee and juice order and waited maybe about 50 minutes, but when the food came it was delicious. We ordered a California hash bowl and bananas foster pancakes to split between 2 adults, and a kids chocolate chip pancake with bacon meal. Very tasty and filling and brought home a leftover pancake that warmed up well. They also gave us some of their homemade jam for the toast that was a tropical fruit blend. Would definitely visit again!

★★★★
February 13, 2022

We love having brunch here. The food is good and the service is just perfect!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 16, 2024

Great food and service! Will be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Ordered an omelette with a potato patty of some sort. It came with two slices of bread and a delicious jam. It was all very good! Also had a mocha latte which was very good. Lots of variety and great service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Good food, good prices, friendly people

★★★★
December 1, 2024

We had a fantastic breakfast at this cafe! The food was fresh and flavorful, and the service was friendly and attentive.The cozy vibe made it a perfect spot to relax and enjoy a meal. Definitely a must-visit!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

This is one of my favorite spots in Kitchener. I m there with a book or laptop and it s my happy place.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Best brunch in town! No argument taken!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Great food great service, best brunch in KW

★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Very cute decorations and ambience. But it took 1hr and 10min to get an eggs Benedict. Servers looked annoyed/bored. Food was ok but really not worth the hour wait. Food

★★
November 22, 2024

Good food, but the service is very slow. only one waitress. not very well managed. it will take over an hr to get breakfast

★★
November 22, 2024

don t come on an empty stomach. service was horrible - took 20 mins to even take our order then another 50 mins before we got our food. there was only 2 of us and went for breakfast. food was okay but definitely not worth the wait. wont be coming back here.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

I always love coming here. You can tell the owners put a lot of care in not only the restaurant, but also connecting with their customers. Their benedicts are next level! Not to mention everything is fairly priced.

★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Waiting 50 minutes for a soup and sandwich is unacceptable. I do understand that the Cafe was busy when I first came in, but it died down significantly about 20 minutes into my wait. And still, even if there was some backlog of orders, it would have been nice to have been asked if I wanted a top up of my coffee or water to tide me over, or just some communication from the wait staff that they were working on it. If I wasnt on foot and it wasnt pouring rain outside I would have just paid for the coffee and left. The host who sat me seemed less than thrilled to speak to me. The server was friendly but made no apology over the wait, and also failed to ask about refills when my food finally came. The food (I had the blackened chicken sandwich and mushroom soup) was decent, but nothing to write home about. It really is a shame that such a lovely atmosphere was ruined by inattentive service.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

The food is made with pride and the service is wonderful. Delicious! Highly recommend it! Food : 5/5

★★★
October 22, 2024

I like the food here for breakfast, but the service is ridiculously slow. Waiting for an hour for food to arrive. There is one waitress doing everything while two other staff sit at the bar apparently doing almost nothing. They do not seem to care how long patrons need to wait. If you come here, don t have any plans for a few hours because that s probably how long it will take.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Food is amazing. The home made jams are always delicious. Great portions. Excellent service

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Light , balanced and perfect!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

My favourite breakfast joint! I love the Eggs Benedict Perhaps try the special if you dont love the standard Benedicts. 15/09/2024 - a new menu and I just tried the Philly Beef Benedict and it was excellent

★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

The food here is great, but Im not coming back anymore. Ive been here multiple times, and the service is extremely slow each and every time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Chef Daryl does not disappoint. The food here is consistently good and the counter staff is always pleasant and helpful. Ps..the muffins are to die for :) Food

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Always great service. Food home made never disappoints. Always delicious! One of our favorite go to breakfast places. Its the best. Food : 5/5

September 22, 2024

55 minutes waiting for eggs Benedict on a Sunday. Very overrated place. First time and last time Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Been here for brunch with my SO several times. Extremely good brunch fare - the chicken & waffles Benedict is fantastic. They also have a hot sauce that is homemade, wonderfully flavourful, and SCORCHINGLY hot - perfect!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

This is my go to breakfast place whenever I m in the Kitchener area. The staff are always super welcoming and kind. The food is fantastic - with anything from basic breakfast options to fun, creative, and tasty dishes. I highly recommend that you try their eggs benedict. The atmosphere/overall vibe is pleasant they provide a nice space for table conversations without overpowering the eating area with music or otherwise distracting noises. And finally if you love a good hot sauce, Darrel makes his own and he is not messing around! Truly a HOT sauce that goes super well with breakfast!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Amazing kids breakfast! Their hollandaise sauce is also perfection.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

We had a delicious breakfast! We really enjoyed the pancakes and house made jam.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

So homely. Love the buttermilk pancakes here too much! And the owner here is such a lovely person.

★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I went a couple years ago and i wasnt that impressed with the food. The portion was small and it was pretty pricey for what they gave me.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

The prices & serving sizes are great! The food is always good quality and consistent. Service is amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Absolutely delicious. The Christopher Benedict was delicious. The Blueberry Cobler French Toast was too sweet for my liking but that just me. I will return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Really good omelettes and benedict

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

It nice place to have your breakfast. Good is delicious Service is good Quality of feed is good Food : 5/5 |

★★★★
July 22, 2024

[Update June 2024] It feels like the quality has gone down a bit. Food was good but not as great as I remember. Service was friendly, but food took a very long time and the potato pancakes tasted stale. Still one of the nicer breakfast places in DTK. Best breakfast in the city. Great ambiance. Friendly staff. Delicious food. Very reasonable prices. (Ive never had their lunch menu, but if its anything like their breakfast, then is almost certainly amazing.)

★★
July 22, 2024

The food is decent and the service staff are very nice. However, we waited just over an hour for food to arrive. I m not sure if it was a one off or if it s always like this. None of the staff came by to offer to top up drinks or check on us until about 10 minutes before the food arrived to tell us that it would be 3 more minutes. Again they were very kind and polite. Nothing wrong with the food but it was not worth the one hour wait. The prices are decent so I might give it another shot but who knows.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

This place is a hidden gem and has hands down become my favourite place to go out with my loved ones. Liz is an incredibly hard working owner. The food is positively delicious. Every time we go for Saturday or Sunday brunch, we don t want to leave we are enjoying ourselves so much. Make sure if you are a homemade jam lover to follow her on Facebook and order her jams when she makes them for Christmas or other special occasions. They make for incredible Christmas presents.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

I had the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with a salad. The sandwich was amazing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Great breakfast! Staff is friendly and great location to walk to.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

A friend and I went here for brunch and as a first time mom I was so thankful to find this restaurant to be family-friendly! They had an appropriate high chair I could use for my 8 month old to sit at to eat with us safely (I had prepared some food for her). The waitress was incredibly sweet and the blueberry French toast was delicious!

June 22, 2024

Don t go to this restaurant if you have no reservation or you ll have to wait for one hour to get a table!! They will have 2 reserved tables for 15-30mins while having walk-ins to wait in line. Whenever someone leaves they put a reserved sign right away. They shouldn t accept walk-ins if they have lots of reservation and be transparent with customers regarding the waiting time!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Best eggs benedict Ive ever had. Service was amazing and pricing was very reasonable. Highly recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Wife and I started going here when we first met in 2017 on a regular for a couple years. Best breakfast in town that I ve ever had! We thought they closed after the VID . Glad we found out you re still open!! See you soon Darlene! We missed you!!!

★★★
May 22, 2024

The breakfast food and coffee here is delicious and reasonably priced 5/5. I would come back here more often if the atmosphere wasn t so awful... It s really hot, stuffy and humid in this place that it makes for an uncomfortable dining experience. Does this place not have fans or AC ? Service is ok, took a long time to get coffee and food, or even get served in the first place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Loved this place. The food was delicious and at a great price! Will definitely be coming back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Amazing food at great prices!! a hidden gem

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Visited this spot over the May 24 with the GF, she got the Boca Rotan, loved it, I had the breakfast burrito, swapped out the chicken no issue, no extra charge as some places do to modify even for allergies and such. I would have scored the burrito a perfect 10/10 had they used real cheese instead of what tasted like a slice of Kraft processed garbage, which is a shame because that ruined the entire thing for me. The potato pancake was amazing, I am a firm believer in you can never have too much garlic and apparently so does the restaurant, it was so good. Ill still rate the food high and hope that they see this and use real cheese for the future and do away with processed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

I had the Norwegian Benedict, Caesar salad, and mushroom soup. Each of these things was phenomenal and I cannot recommend it enough. The dishes have a homey and perfect taste so it d be amazing comfort food. There are so many choices on the menu including kids options. I can t wait to come back and try so many other dishes like the linguini and carbonara. Many of the dressings and sauces are made in house and delicious. The staff and owners are delightful too. This would be the perfect breakfast/brunch staple!

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

The atmosphere is perfect for a brunch spot. Food is always delicious. Ive tried a number of menu items and Ive enjoyed everything. Service is slow. We waited about 55 minutes for our food, but it looked like everyone was waiting for a while. Their house balsamic dressing is fantastic!

April 22, 2024

I picked this restaurant for my family and i for breakfast because they meintioned they have gluten free options. When we 3ntered the restaurant i asked the lady if they had gf options just to confir and she confirmed. I ordered benedict eggs with toast, when it was served we asked if it was GF and the waiteress said it was not gf hence she brought me gf bread with eggs. I called her yesterday to confirm again if the sweet potatoes fries were gf and she confirmed it was gf because they use fresh sweet potatoes and they coat with chickpea flour. I now doubting about the bread if they really exchanged for gf. I have celiac disease, I havent slept for two nights since Wednesday night because of excruciating pain all over my body. I usually feel pain during the day but if it gets worse at night. I have never experienced this much pain before. I will never go to this Cafe again and if you have celiac disease or any food sensitivity stay away from this Cafe.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Nice little place we didnt know existed.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

This is one of our favourite places for brunch on weekends. There is a good variety of food options, tasty, good presentation and reasonable prices. The staff is very friendly and always courteous. We love the French toast sticks, the eggs Benedict and the chicken waffles. If you are into hot sauce, ask for the chef s hot sauce but be careful!

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

This is one of my favourite local places . I usually come by myself and sit at the window. Their potato pancakes and homemade hot sauce are some things that set them apart from other breakfast places , plus the service is lovely. Lots of yummy options including gluten free. Bacon and coffee is good ! I love darlise :)

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Always a pleasure to have a yummy breakfast here! Would absolutely recommend to grab a bite to eat here. The staff are so kind, and the chef is great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

A friend and I enjoyed the ambience and food at Darlise cafe. Knowing that this place gets busy we went early and were aware that there may be a wait for the food. The service was friendly and attentive. Our orders of blueberry pancakes and the Mexican style bowl were flavourful, fresh, well presented and plenty.

★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Was pleasantly surprised to find this Kitchener fixture packed by 9am on a Sunday. The atmosphere was cozy and the staff welcoming. We had the Granola Blueberry Pancakes and the Darlise Crepes. Both were delicious!

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Excellent breakfast in downtown Kitchener. The coffee was top notch and both of our meals were fantastic. The only issue was the lineup to get in but I guess that is because it s a great place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Darlise is the cutest woman. Go to breakfast in KW!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Modern and neat Cafe in downtown Kitchener (Queen and King). I had the smoked Mac and Cheese with buttermilk crispy chicken. SO GOOD!! The best part for myself was the fact that they had dairy free milk to go with my after meal coffee!!!! Definitely recommend dropping in and I will be returning soon myself! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Fantastic breakfast! I thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast here and the wonderful service. Recommend to everyone! Enjoy!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Living in the Region for almost 15 years, why have I JUST tried this place?! The Smoked Salmon Rosti is now my favorite brunch item. Incredibly affordable prices for high quality food and attentive service. Im relocating all my upcoming brunches to Darlise!

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

We just love this hidden jem. Not your typical rush in and out breakfast joint. Menu is unique, food is fantastic. They can be a little slow when it gets busy, but you also don t feel rushed. Enjoyable breakfast, friendly staff, great food! One of my favourite breakfast places

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Awesome find!!!! Going back. Ours was a 2 hour breakfast. The coffee is good and they don t charge for refills. Thank goodness because we had to wait a long time for our breakfasts. When they arrived they were good. Eggs cooked to our specifications. Chorizo was tasty. And the potato pancakes also good. Check it out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Incredible experience

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Had a great breakfast today with friends and our 2 yr old! Really enjoyed our meals, the special was a pulled pork Benedict on a waffle and it was delicious!! Prices are extremely reasonable. I see many complaining about the long wait times which I dont think is fair. This is a place to enjoy your time (and food) with friends. Darlise does not claim to be fast food nor even an everyday diner (says so on their website!). If a super quick meal is what you are after there are lots of great places around that will meet your needs. That bit of extra time is just the cost of a well constructed meal. I should note that even our 2 year old was quite content to wait and make use of the crayons provided!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Excellent brunch, the eggs Benedict were very tasty and the entire menu was well-priced and affordable. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Such a gem of a place. Always great food, freshly made, reasonably priced and great service. We need to make this a regular place and try more of their amazing menu

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Our favorite breakfast place! The dishes are all made from scratch and the flavors are spectacular. Best Eggs Benedict in town hands down!

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Been coming here for years. Love it every time. Best coffee Best breakfast Food : 5/5 |

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Its a nice breakfast place, great atmosphere, good coffee and not expensive, it was kind of busy so the service was a lil slow but the waitress was very kind and attentive. Great for a family breakfast.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Found this Hidden Gem.... food was amazing, service was friendly and fast. All meals made to order. Best brunch weve had in forever!

★★
January 22, 2024

I ve come twice and neither time was I impressed. When we arrived at noon, there were two couples ahead of us, but it took the staff 25 minutes to bus the empty tables and seat us. It took another hour for us to get our food (two eggs Benedict, which were yummy but not entirely worth an hour wait). To note, the staff is quite slow and a bit disorganized. The owner is friendly and lovely, but unfortunately that factor is not redeemable enough for us to warrant another visit.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food. Will definitely return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing place. Fresh food and staff is also very welcoming.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I cant believe I havent been here before now! The service was amazing, and the chicken and waffle Benedict was THE BEST chicken and waffle Ive ever had, by far. Im definitely making this a go-to brunch spot.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really tasty

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great service and food! Loved the Benedict. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, I highly recommend it :)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The ultimate brunch spot in KW. They are so consistent. The food and drinks are always delicious and everything is done from scratch, including their wonderful Hollandaise and jam. My favourite item on their menu is Jimbo s Buttermilk Fried Chicken Benedict. I don t think there is any way possible to make this dish any better! P.S. Major shout out to Liz, who is always so friendly and helpful.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cute brunch spot with amazing vibe. Ordered Some like it hot Omlet with rey bread and vanilla yogurt, Banana foster french toast and heavenly crepe with salad. Everything made taste buds flutter. They have specials on the chalkboard. Smoothie tasted well. Hot sauce was a HIT ..if some one likes hot sauce its a must try, ask for chef special hot sauce. Few parking spots are available over weekend right beside cafe if not you can park a block away and walk to cafe.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely food and friendly service for a reasonable price. The meal was made really fast. Definitely recommend the Norwegian Benedict.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cozy and friendly atmosphere - orders are prepared with attention to detail, and the quality is above average for a very fair price. Its perhaps not the quickest spot to brunch but its worth the wait. Definitely recommend the French toast sticks and the Norwegian Eggs Benedict. Did not prefer the potato pancake side as it was dry for my taste.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Good coffe , good food, good price, good service, very frendly! Parking: 5-6

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Awesome gem downtown Kitchener. Can t believe we haven t been coming here for longer! It is generally very busy but staff is swift to get you seated and served as soon as possible. The food is amazing, try asking server for recommendations! You won t be disappointed - we ve tried many things on the menu and loved them all. Make this your next spot next time your downtown!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Always heard great things and the experience did not disappoint. Service is great, but the food does take a little bit to come out so its highly recommended to get the French Toast sticks to tide you over. The Norwegian Benedict was amazing and the Boca Benedict was really good too. Definitely cant go wrong with their hollandaise sauce so just choose the toppings that speak to you. Will definitely come back again.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food is average in flavour, but the portions of it are smaller than comparable restaurants. The service is awful. Prepare to wait for a minimum of 15 minutes to place orders and a minimum of 45 minutes to receive them (Once this itself was 90 minutes!). They seem to be understaffed and staff members have consistently been inconsiderate to acknowledge delays. The atmosphere is inviting, but it can feel cold depending on the weather outside and if your table is by the door. The space is small. If you need distance to feel comfortable post-COVID, this restaurant isnt for you.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is a great breakfast spot. They dont try to reinvent the wheel, just really good food and service. Its nice to have a quality simple meal.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice little breakfast place. Very friendly service. Food was good.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Beautiful café with great coffee and reasonable size and price of portions. The Guilt Free Benedict tasted great. I was very excited about the potato pancakes, but they were dry for my liking. So, no potato pancakes next time.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Awesome as always. Great food homemade so expect to wait a little but its worth it. Coffee is great and service friendly and attentive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really good food and warm atmosphere. Had a Norwegian Benedict and a mango smoothie, both were delicious

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I go to Darlise cafe with my wife for breakfast! They have a delicious breakfast specially their Benedict. I highly recommend this place- Really good service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Their French toast sticks are the best, they also have great home made yogurt and amazing home made jams

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Like the other reviews said, its slow for the food to come out. But, looks like its just a small kitchen. Food is worth the wait. Service is quick and polite. You can tell the staff care about this place.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This place quickly became a new favourite breakfast spot. Absolutely love the various Eggs Benedict s - hands-down the best in KW. Always a busy place so there s a bit of a wait for food but it s definitely worth it!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Crispy crepes that were impossible to fold without crumbling? No, thank you. The kids liked their mac and cheese, though. This place is trying to be a bistro, but its slow, with a giant menu and tired decor.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cute spot for brunch. A good place to go if you re not in a rush. The featured latte was amazing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

So yummy and excellent/friendly staff!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

As per most of the other reviews, had to wait a bit for food to come, but it was so worth it. The portion is fair for the price and everything tasted fresh and delicious. The cafe latte I had was also good. No complaints!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent experience we had a family Easter brunch last weekend cant say enough about the homemade food and the atmosphere of the restaurant Highly recommend if your in Kitchener.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food and great vibes; a perfect leisurely catch up with friends. Came here with a group of folks for brunch. I ordered the jimbo eggs benedict (poached eggs, hollandaise, fried chicken, on a belgium waffle) with a potato patty on the side. It was delicious! Most everything here is made in-house, so we did wait a while for food, but it was worth it. Service was good for the most part; the staff were incredibly kind and friendly, but we did have to ask a few times for drinks and sauces (totally understandable, it was a bit busy). Anyways- I totally recommend it for a cheap and delicious meal.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food, but a bit slow when busy

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Went this morning with regulars Lony and Debbie. They werent kidding! This place has an incredible breakfast! Great friendly service. Cant wait to return!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Just lovely!! service was wonderful

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The best benedict youll have around! Fantastic service & food.

★★
December 22, 2023

My wife and I had breakfast at the Darlisle on a Sunday morning. We arrived at 9.30- 9.45. We did not leave until 11.50. The food was quite good but the service was very slow. One waitress and 2 young ladies at the counter. Had to chase down the girls to refill the coffee, it was empty due to the long process of getting food. Many other customers were very unhappy with the service. If you want lunch go at 10 you might get food by 12

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Fabulous food! Only one server so it was a teeny bit slow but excellent food and friendly service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A hidden gem for breakfast and lunch. My eggs Benedict melted in my mouth the hollandaise sauce is made from scratch. Portioned perfectly and paired with a soft potato pancake. The atmosphere is cozy like a bed and breakfast with homey decor and beautiful old-fashioned hardwood floors. Our server was delightful!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent brunch - I highly recommend the chicken and waffles Benedict. Not too crowded, but a lot of space. Ill definitely be back and recommend this place to others. I have to reserve one star because the payment machine prompted for a tip and made it awkward - without this, its a five star place for sure. Kid-friendliness: I saw high chairs for kids were available.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice little cafe in the heart of downtown Kitchener. Great breakfast options, even for lunch. Try their omelettes and bowls. Vegan options available. Not open daily, so make sure to check their hours.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Such a hidden gem downtown every single thing we have tried is SO amazing. Staff is very kind and the atmosphere is very cozy. We love Darlise!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really delicious as a meal! And even the filter coffee is good!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good brunch spot. Great hollandaise sauce and house hot sauce. I love the Norwegian Benedict here. Relaxed and fairly quiet atmosphere, service is excellent.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The Darlise cafe staff was very kind and the food and coffee were excellent. I had the smoked salmon on a rosti with dill sauce. It was beautifully plated and tasted amazing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing breakfast spot in DT Kitchener! We had the French toast bites, which were delicious in the caramel sauce. The meals (chicken waffle and eggs Benedict) came with potato pancakes - full of flavour. The fruit cup was a generous size. Thanks!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

There might be a wait. They will text when ready. The coffee is excellent inside a large mug. I hardly ever order pancakes, the icing suger drizzle with blueberries did not have a chance. Bacon seemed like it was done in the oven. Eggs Benedict was also excellent. The atmosphere is very relaxed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

First visit yesterday, definitely not the last. Had the Chicken Brie Quesadilla, fantastic! My wife had the Crepe of the Day, equally as fantastic. Will not hesitate to recommend this place to anyone. Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Wow - our new favourite breakfast place. The fruit parfait is the best. The owners here really know how to treat you right. A definite must for breakfast or lunch.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My husband, son, and I ate here while visiting family in KW area. The food was really good, and the staff was very friendly. I had eggs Benedict that were very tasty. My son loved the sausage links. We ordered extra, and he still wanted more. I would definitely Italy go back again. Id love to try the crepes!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good tasty little place. Will come again

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food, good service, beautiful place. Definitely a more high-end place. Very yummy! Parking: parking garage right behind it on Charles street, free on sundays last I checked, I think maybe $2-3ish for the time it usually takes us to eat Wheelchair accessibility: There is no wheelchair ramp. A person will have to help you get a wheelchair up the short and long steps if its not a wheelchair that can handle that. they share a stairwell with another business and likely didnt have the option to change it. They may have a different entrance that you could use in the back with different accessibility.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Friendly staff and coffee is yummy and refills keep on coming Will definitely go back Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Stopped in for a late lunch. Upgraded the salad soup combo with onion soup. Very tasty soup with the perfect blend of caramelized onions,broth,croutons and cheese and the portions were perfect.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Bom atendimento, bom café e boa comida. No fim de semana é bastante movimentado, e eventualmente a comida pode demorar um pouco mais para ser servida. A panqueca com blueberry é muito bem servida, duas pessoas podem compartilhar tranquilamente. O omelete com espinafre é muito gostoso e pode acompanhar batatas e pão. O cardápio é muito variado.

December 22, 2023

Service was horrible. Waited 25 minutes for my coffee. It tasted like absolute garbage and wasn t hot. Asked the server to cancel our food order, she came over with extreme attitude asking why we were canceling. We then explained why and she was even more rude and told us to get out when we asked for our bills. If I could give 0 stars I would.

December 22, 2023

The servers here look like theyd rather be anywhere else. We waited 30 minutes for lattes that tasted like water and syrup. After trying them decided that the food would be a long wait and likely disappointing. Asked to pay for our coffees and cancel our order and the manager came over to yell at us. I told her that as a manager of another Cafe this was not the way to approach unhappy customers and she played the what did I do card. When I stood my ground she said she didnt want our money and to just leave. Wildly horrific experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This is the place where you settle in. Enjoy a good book or good company. There may be a wait but the food is worth every moment. Everything is delicious but the star of the menu is the most delicious hollandaise you will ever taste.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Shockingly good place for brunch. Truly made to order. Worth the waiting. They are slow because everything is made to order. Be patient. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food here is amazing for a breakfast/lunch place. I enjoyed everything we ordered. My daughter really liked her chicken nuggets. Even though they are made with chicken breast, they are quite tender. And the fries were obviously freshly made. We liked our crepes, and omelette. All taste very good. Soup and salad were also nice. The only downside was probably that it took a long time to get our food. But they did mention that on their menu that most food are made to order, so taking longer makes sense. Other than that, service was good.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food wasnt bad though very small for the price / portion. Ordered eggs Benedict. The food was good. Food took ages to come and no hot chocolate was available. Service was alright

★★★
December 22, 2023

Pro tip: if you go on a weekend, be prepared to wait ***over 40-45 minutes*** for your order, and before that, about 15 minutes to be seated while being ignored by the younger staff. Recommend going on weekdays during off hours. Food still takes a bit, but service is generally better. The food is great.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food is good. The staff are friendly. And the atmosphere is nice. The Benedict was like any other Benedict Ive had, nothing special. Their little patty that came on the side of the omlette was a bit weird though, not really our cup of tea. Id eat here again if opportunity arises.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and I LOVED the potato and onion pancake, and my vegetarian Darlise Crepe was great!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This cafe is a hidden gem. My husband and I are visiting Canada from England. We have travelled all over from Montreal to Vancouver island and this is by far the best breakfast we have had anywhere. It is also reasonably priced and very good value for money. The atmosphere is very friendly and they can t do enough for you. The food is just great! I loved my Boca Ratan hollandaise and my husband, who has a very big appetite was more than satisfied with his Go Big . My son, who came with us, said his Go Big was like 3 breakfasts in one! We all finished our meals! What more can you ask from a cafe? We will definitely go back!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Darlise Cafe is an easy to miss brunch spot in downtown Kitchener. But don t let the lack of curb appeal fool you. They make a great brunch for a reasonable price. The host, server and kitchen staff were all super kind and accommodating. I ordered Eggs Benedict from the special Oktoberfest menu. The egg was cooked perfectly. The hollandaise sauce could have used a little salt, but otherwise great. The potato pancake was also pretty good, and a welcome alternative to the typical home style potatoes you d expect for brunch. We also tried the French Toast which was also pretty decent. What I appreciated most about Darlise Cafe was the lack of gimmicks and pretension you typically get at brunch places these days. It was just simple, straightforward, well done brunch. Kid-friendliness: They were super kind and accommodating of our toddler. They had high chairs, booster seats and offered crayons as well. The kids menu also had a good selection.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Good atmosphere! Friendly staff and service. Food is so fresh. The jam and pepper served at this restaurant are made in-house and are absolutely delicious! Loved the French Toast.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best breakfast In the kw are very fresh and very good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Some of the best brunch food I ve had - and I ve had many. The Eggs Benny I got were incredible, crispy English Muffin and perfectly poached egg on top of avocado, tomato and spinach. The addition of the avocado and tomato was tasty touch, in a usual Florentine benny elsewhere you typically only get spinach. If you like hot sauce they make their own in house, it s actually got kick to it and the taste profile is wonderful, especially paired with the food. Service was friendly and welcoming.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I got the Florentine eggs Benedict, and it was great. Service was fast and quick even with a full house. Our servers were lovely, kind and quick on their feet. I love their eggs Benedict cause it s a light breakfast for me, and not too over powering.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was so flavourful, the homemade jam was amazing served with so much care. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food is so delicious here and the chefs here really care about the food they serve. Service is also great here. They have gluten free options here which make me so happy. Best spot for breakfast and lunch in kw.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We found this hidden gem almost be accident. I got the 2 eggs basic breakfast $9.99. Delicious. My sister had the blueberry crumble pancakes $10.29 completely filling, and my daughter got the deconstruct crepes $10.99 huge portions. The staff were warming and welcoming. They made us complete strangers feel like we belonged and had been coming here for years.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Quaint little cafe. Friendly staff and easy service. Great quiet place to have a conversation.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent menu, good portions and the service is very friendly. Highly recommend.

December 22, 2023

Food was okay. Very slow service. The place was not clean. Wouldnt recommend. I blame management for how the place is set up, but I dont blame the staff! Food : 3/5

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fodd is very tasty and portions are great too. However the service is very slow during brunch hours, expect to be here up to 3 hours.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Delicious food, huge portions, reasonable prices, and great service. Highly recommend!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Stumbled on to this place. Our server was delightful. Homemade jam and hot sauce (very hot). Mushrooms in omelette were very flavourful. Good value $13 for three egg omelette, sides and coffee. Lots of regulars there - a good sign.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I absolutely love this place for breakfast. Extremely friendly staff, fantastic home made food, and good prices. When we travel to K-W, breakfast here is the highlight!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing little Cafe tucked away in DTK. Had the Benny and it was amazingly fresh. Wife had the basic breakfast and I got to try some of the jam. Mind-blowing! Food : 5/5

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The novel of a menu seems exciting at first. The jam and English muffin were my favourite part. The potato pancake had a bit too much bite and not enough flavour for me (was about a half inch thick and felt an underdone). California omelette was well filled. It s unfortunate the food took an hour to come out. They did comp our coffee and hot chocolate because of the wait/mixup with orders. But cold hot beverages are kinda off putting. I wouldn t go back but it seemed like a nice place.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Went here for brunch, food is good, lots of options!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food is fantastic and service is great!

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Very long wait but good food

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Very clean, friendly staff, food was great, cant ask for more.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best breakfast in Kitchener

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

THE BEST eggs Benedict in town! I m a bit of a eggs Benedict nerd and love hunting the best ones. This is by far the best ive had. I love the space, feel, food, and service. It s kinda like walking into a cafe in another world :) love it I m a new regular

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Recommend coming here for an enjoyable brunch on a relaxed Sunday! We tried the smoked salmon tortilla wrap, the vegetarian Darlise crepe, and French toast with chocolate chips - well-portioned and delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great service and wonderful food, honestly a place you should check out if visiting Kitchener!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good food and service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

I love spending my morning at this place on my days off. The vibe is unique. The price is acceptable compared to the service, quality of the food, and downtown location. Liz was so friendly and kind. The only problem is that sometimes the food took too long even when the restaurant wasnt busy

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Popped in for lunch and was nicely surprised with great service and an amazing sandwich.. I would definitely recommend..

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Had a Chorizo Benedict breakfast special here, with a side of yogurt and granola. The latte was perfect and the meal great. So delicious! Great environment and friendly service. They make their own jam! (also exceptional).

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Amazing food! Excellent place for breakfast and brunch. They also have lots of delicious beverages such as lattes, chai tea lattes, etc. Vegetarian options: They have lots of vegetarian options Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options as well and you can leave out the cheese for dairy free. They do have almond milk as well for those who cannot drink milk. Their potato pancakes are gluten free and dairy free as well.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Definitely one of the best breakfast spots in all of the Tri-City! I highly recommend anybody to try this place and they wont be disappointed!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Delicious every time! I love this place

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This place is a gem! My favorite breakfast cafe in KW, by far. I highly recommend the Darlise crepe, its delicious! As well as the Norwegian Benedict and the Apple French Toast, both my favorites!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Tasty food, quick services, and good prices :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great breakfast! Will definitely be coming back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Kid-friendliness: Staff was great with my kids.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Today we went for the first time to Darlise. The brunch was delicious and well presented. The service was amazing. Would definitely recommend and go back again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Pleasant staff, nice intimate place, and excellent food at very decent prices. Would definitely recommend. Wheelchair accessibility: Sadly, there isnt any wheelchair access.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The food was awesome (I had the Traditional Eggs Benedict) and the coffee was great too, but the service was slow. And I wouldnt mind waiting, as the place was very busy (it was Sunday morning), however I was seated on a high-top chair without a foot rest, so I was feeling very uncomfortable by the end of my meal. If the seating had been more comfortable I couldve stayed for another cup of coffee. Bottom line: come here for great food, but avoid high-top chairs, unless youre a very tall person.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

One of our favourite places for brunch. Try the heavenly crepe. Also enjoy many of the daily specials. Can be a long wait on busy days (Sunday), but good food and very reasonable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The Breakfast options are amazing. Started with French toast sticks with fosters sauce ***** Followed by Liz Crepe ***** & Jim s chicken waffle Benedict ***** The values was very great, the service so friendly and attentive. If we ever in the area again we will be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Chicken Waffle Benedict was delicious

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Always delicious food at Darlise Cafe. Staff are great. We love this place!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent food and service. Everything is made to order so expect to wait a little bit longer than usual for your food, but it is worth the wait. The eggs benedict options are excellent.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Currently closed till November as the chef had heart surgery

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Amazing energy to this place, immaculate vibes and some of the best food downtown Kitchener. A total hidden gem, I can t wait for you guys to return. Get well soon, to the chef

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Outstanding!!! The food is amazing! I would have posted a picture of my food but I ate it too quickly lol. The mushroom soup is the best soup I have ever had! It was like a dance party for my taste buds. PS, it gets crazy busy over the weekends (for good reason) so expect a long wait. The wait is 100% worth it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The eggs Benedict are great. All of the food coming out of the tiny kitchen looked great. Service very slow but the place was busy so be prepared to have a leisurely meal. Will be back!

★★★★
December 22, 2022

The food here is always delicious. we had Blackstone & Traditional Benedicts and we both enjoyed every single bite. Don t forget to try the fruit bowl as well, it was fresh and tasty. Usually they take perfect care of their costumers but not sure why this time (Saturday) everything went slow, probably because they were too busy.